Louisville, KY Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)
Key Facts
- Covers
- rentals built before 1978
- Assessment deadline
- 30 days after citation
- Remediation deadline
- 90 days from plan
- Initial fine
- $500 per citation
- Max fine
- $4,000 for EBLL cases
Summary
Louisville Metro requires owners of pre-1978 rental housing to get a certified Lead-Hazard Risk Assessment and remediate confirmed hazards within Department-set deadlines, with code enforcement officers trained to spot lead hazards during routine inspections.
When a lead-based hazard has been verified by a Lead-Hazard Risk Assessment, the property owner shall be responsible for the remediation of all lead-based hazards... The owner of the property shall be responsible for obtaining a Lead-Hazard Risk Assessment within 30 days of the issuance of the Order of Correction unless granted an extension by the Department.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-47: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinances passed by the Council and approved by the Mayor as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Adopted March 2025, Louisville Metro's lead hazard chapter covers any rental housing unit built before 1978, run jointly by the Department of Codes and Regulations and the Department of Public Health and Wellness. When a child's elevated blood lead level is reported, or a Code Enforcement Officer notes a probable hazard during an inspection, the owner has 30 days to obtain a Certified Lead-Hazard Risk Assessment and must complete the Department's remediation plan within 90 days. Any contractor who disturbs more than six square feet of interior or 20 square feet of exterior paint needs EPA RRP certification, and owners must give tenants the assessment and control reports.
Violations & Fines
A Code Enforcement Board citation carries a $500 fine for the first offense, rising $500 per repeat citation up to $2,000, doubled to a $4,000 maximum for cases involving an elevated blood lead level, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which rental units does Louisville's lead hazard law cover?
What happens if an owner misses the assessment deadline?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Louisville
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